A Long Walk Down a Winding Road

Invaluable wisdom and practical advice from a late-identified autistic adult

From the unique perspective of a late-identified autistic adult comes a book about working to carve out a better life in the face of challenge and adversity. Interwoven with true stories of personal hardships and triumphs, A Long Walk Down a Winding Road offers ideas and insights aimed at inspiring and empowering the reader to enhance quality of life while also describing what it feels like to be autistic and not know it until age 40, as told by somebody who actually walks in these shoes.

Growing up, Sam Farmer contended with challenges many of us face. He was bullied, faced difficulties around self-awareness and socialization, and struggled to build self-esteem. In spite of initial feelings of frustration and confusion, he learned to embrace his newfound autistic identity, recognizing that doing so would ultimately lead to stronger sense of self.

Farmer has written this book in order to share his ideas and insights learned from lived experience. The stories and wisdom shared are intended to inspire and empower readers to find greater happiness. By emphasizing the importance of a broader acceptance of autism and arguing why it should not be thought of as a disorder, Farmer illustrates how society can benefit from showing an understanding of people who are different.

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Praise for A Long Walk Down A Winding Road

“This book will be a welcome read for those families looking for insight as to how the future can be brighter and how important family, the right diagnosis, and appropriate supports can be in making this happen.”

—Barbara Gantwerk, former New Jersey State Director of Special Education

“Too often society suggests that individuals have reached their fullest potential as young adults; they are labeled as either abled or disabled. Farmer provides a fresh outlook to positively persuade us from this negative mindset. His unique and personal insight into neurodiversity is proof that social and emotional growth are a lifelong journey. Through honest reflection (and a splash of humor), he recognizes the importance family, peers, therapists, and employers have had on his life and shares the strategies he’s applied toward becoming more socially aware. A Long Walk Down a Winding Road is a brilliant and personal illustration of self-growth, love, and acceptance.”

—Lucy Ann Johnson, Executive Director, Transitions Life Center & Community ~ A Special Place for Special Needs

“By interspersing his memoir with helpful how-to advice, Sam has created a resource as valuable to someone on the spectrum as it is to the clinicians that serve them. His distinct voice and meticulous inner dialogue allow the reader to take his perspective in situations as diverse as the workplace, love and family relationships, and to realize that the difference in experience of ‘Aspies’ vs. ‘Neurotypicals’ is less than you’d think.”

—Kim Lewis, M.Ed. CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Activity Tailor

“A Long Walk Down a Winding Road is an inspirational and worthwhile read. Sam writes with purpose and sincerity as he shares his experiences, challenges, and insights. We all can learn from Sam’s example and his transformative life lessons.”

—Karen, Speech-Language Pathologist

“Sam Farmer reaches into his past, evaluates his present, and starts paying his experiences forward after an in-depth description of his journey through being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. He takes you down a fascinating path of how he interprets the world around him and how he’s learned to be a part of it.”

—Michelle L. Carney, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Master ABA Program Consultant, Autism Outreach, Inc./Club ED

“Sam’s honest reflection of his life will resonate with adults on the autism spectrum, especially those who discovered their diagnosis later in life as he did. Drawing from his experiences as a child, a husband, and a father of an autistic son, his book will provide the reader with practical suggestions and insight into how someone on the autism spectrum can navigate the world and build a fulfilling life.”

—Dania Jekel, Executive Director, The Asperger/Autism Network

“In his beautifully written book, A Long Walk Down a Winding Road, Farmer conveys hopefulness and optimism about the possibilities for individuals with Asperger’s or Autism Spectrum Disorder. His journey toward self-knowledge and his advice on how he overcame and still struggles with some obstacles will let others in the Aspie community know they are not alone in their experiences. His story informs clinicians, too. Hearing how well Farmer has done gives me, and hopefully others, inspiration to stay in the field and keep helping.”

—Nancy K. Gajee, Ph.D., Director of Outpatient Clinical Services, Judge Baker Children’s Center, Boston, MA